If anyone cares the way to fix this is not to difficult once i found out how to do it. First you need make sure that all hidden and system files can be seen. Then you need to find the file pubcmd.dat It is located in the documents and settings/user/application data/microsoft/publisher folder just rename the file to oldpubcmd.dat restart publisher and problem solved

File for word: normal.dat
powerpoint: ppt11.pcb
excel: excel11.xlb

these files are found in the apropriate folder for instance the word file would be in microsoft/word